Abstract: A display instrument with a first display and with an electro-luminescent display arranged at least partially in front of the first display is, where the first display can be illuminated or can be rendered luminous and appears as an almost uniformly dark surface when neither illuminated nor luminous.

Abstract: A method for displaying information on a screen of a display device in a motor vehicle is described. Information to be displayed and/or its forms of representation are selected from a range of options displayed on the screen by the actuation of command keys. An evaluation is made thereby of the speed of operation of the command keys and/or the frequency distribution of the user's selection of the information and of the forms of representation. The evaluation is then used to change the range of options represented and/or the information displayed and/or the forms of representation of the information displayed.

Abstract: To hide, and protect a transducer (2), such as an ultrasonic, infrared transducer or the like, located on an outer surface part (1) of a vehicle, for example within a recess in a bumper, from vandalism or other damage, the transducer is located on the outer surface part (1) to be flush with the outer surface thereof, and a cover (4) is located on said outer surface part. The outer surface part (1), as is customary has a predetermined surface shape or contour, and the outer surface cover (4) matches and engages that predetermined outer surface part of contour. Preferably, the transducer is an ultrasonic transducer terminating in a membrane (3) which is located flush with the outer surface of the outer surface part (1), and acoustically coupled, for example by an adhesive (5), with the outer cover (4) to reduce damping of signals from the transducer, and of echo signals from an object received by the transducer, and passing through the outer cover.

Abstract: Head-up displays on motor vehicles often have double images and interfering reflections on the windshield. To avoid these, arrangements of linear polarization filters or shutter foils are suggested, which have particularly high light transmission. Arrangements of filter plates on a combiner inside of the windshield are also advantageous.

Abstract: Head-up displays on motor vehicles often have double images and interfering reflections on the windshield. To avoid these, arrangements of linear polarization filters or shutter foils are suggested, which have particularly high light transmission. Arrangements of filter plates on a combiner inside of the windshield are also advantageous.

Abstract: A method and a device for operating an ultrasonic sensor, in which the measuring sensitivity is monitored and the measuring result is compensated for temperature. This is accomplished by measuring the distance of a fixed marking, which is situated on the vehicle and has a known distance from the ultrasonic sensor, to extract a signal, whose amplitude is a measure of the sensitivity of the ultrasonic sensor. From the measured delay time and the theoretical delay time to the marking, a value is attained, which is a measure of the temperature of the ambient air. Suited as a marking is, for example, an edge of a raised license plate frame, which is mounted on a bumper bar of a motor vehicle and lies within the detecting range of the ultrasonic sensor.

Abstract: Several exemplary embodiments for an ultrasound transducer are suggested, in which the sound propagation in the vertical plane is narrow-angled and in the horizontal plane wide-angled by means of appropriate damping measures. The effect on the propagation characteristic is achieved by means of the embodiment in accordance with the invention of the oscillating diaphragm and/or the housing, as well as multiple disposition of piezo oscillators. Because of these measures, damping of the sound waves or the sensitivity of the sensor is approximately the same over the entire horizontal angle up to almost 180.degree..

Abstract: A positioning and navigation system for land vehicles features a simple and memory-conserving route entry method. Routes on maps can be specified by the junctions traversed by the route, so that entering only the junctions in memory uses much less space than prior art digital route storage systems which stored the coordinates of each point along the route. A trip progress information display shows the route vividly by using color or brightness contrast with the rest of the map. Additional direction of travel indications can be given, for example on a Head Up Display reflected off the inside of the windshield within the operator's field of view or by acoustic signals or speech-synthesized announcements. This results in particularly easy-to-follow guide to the driver or operator. Head-up displays on motor vehicles often have double images and interfering reflections on the windshield.

Abstract: A visual display monitor of an information system of a motor vehicle is connected not only with the usual engine and vehicle instrumentation, but also with a variety of electrical equipments installed in the motor vehicle which the driver may want to activate and control from time to time. The picture screen of the monitor, preferably of the LCD, electro-luminescence or plasma type, is subdivided into a report region at the top and a region for interactive information such as instructions menus and operation results. All the functions that would otherwise be performed by individual buttons, knobs and switches of the various equipments installed in the vehicle may be simply performed by a series of easily designated choices. One input device has a ball control for directing a cursor on the screen of the monitor, a menu button and an entry button, and may be located on the steering wheel.

Abstract: In accordance with a method of and arrangement for representing point-referenced travel guiding information, especially in power vehicles on a display of an electronic guiding and orienting device, a desired travel route is input, and a travel guiding information is represented at a distance from a reference point determined in accordance with the vehicle speed.

Abstract: A light-waveguide device has a light waveguide having a circumference provided with a groove, and a coupling element having a carrier and at least one of a light-sensitive transmitting component and a light-sensitive receiving component for coupling an optical radiation in and out of the light waveguide. The carrier is T-shaped and has a base surface and a central support. The at least one light-sensitive component is arranged on the T-shaped carrier and forms with the base surface of the T-shaped carrier an angle .alpha..

Abstract: A visual display monitor of an information system of a motor vehicle is connected not only with the usual engine and vehicle instrumentation, but also with a variety of electrical equipments installed in the motor vehicle which the driver may want to activate and control from time to time. The picture screen of the monitor, preferably of the LCD, electro-luminescence or plasma type, is subdivided into a report region at the top and a region for interactive information such as instructions menus and operation results. All the functions that would otherwise be performed by individual buttons, knobs and switches of the various equipments installed in the vehicle may be simply performed by a series of easily designated choices. One input device has a ball control for directing a cursor on the screen of the monitor, a menu button and an entry button, and may be located on the steering wheel.

Abstract: An opto-electronic indicating matrix comprises a plurality of row and column segments controllable in a multiplex operation, and means for electrically connecting the row and column segments and including a plurality of conductors arranged in regions between the row segments and inclined to a longitudinal axis of the row axis so as to extend parallel to one another in one plane. A preferable application of the matrix is in an indicator for travel guiding information in a power vehicle.

Abstract: A TV display, typically derived from a high-intensity miniature cathode ray tube (1) and available on a projection screen (8) thereof is enlarged by an optical lens system and, as enlarged, projected behind a viewing screen (10) via an optical folded system. The specific arrangement of the TV tube (1) and one or more deflection mirrors (3, 4, 5) forming the optical folded system towards the viewing screen (10) permit flat and light-weight construction of the projection system.

Abstract: A system of navigation for vehicles is proposed, which is provided with a device (14) for representing a road map as well as with a composite navigation apparatus (10, 11, 12) for the continuous instantaneous determination of the location of the vehicle and with a location display (16) on the representation of the road map. Deviations of the location from the course of the roads on the road map are detected and corrected. In order to be able to input a desired trip route (21) into the navigation system without an additional representation of the road map, prior to the beginning of the trip the desired trip route is traced by hand, using an input device (17, 18) connected to a trip route memory, with a wand (19) on the existing representation (14) of the road map, and thereby stored in the trip route memory (13). (Fig. 1).

Abstract: A process for determining navigation data from a map wherein a line code lattice is superposed on the map and scanned by a sensor. The crossing line codes in the lattice differ one from the other.

Abstract: In a device for the illumination of a passive display element a flat light guide element made of plexiglass is arranged immediately behind the passive display element. The guide element has a peripheral edge which is sloped. A carrier plate is provided in the device, which has light-emitting diodes in chip form mounted thereon. The light-emitting diodes apply light onto the peripheral edge of the light guide element.

Abstract: To eliminate the edge effect, a mask is applied within the cell to one of the cover plates defining the cell, preferably to the back plate electrode (3) applied at the inside of the cell to the front glass plate (2). The mask (4) can be applied by various processes, for example printing, evaporating, galvanically, photographically, or by combined vapor-depositing and etching processes. By suitable use of color, colored masking is also possible. The mask is shaped and dimensioned to sharply define the optical display in the desired pattern as determined by the shape of counter electrode (6) applied to a back support plate (7) and is so positioned with respect to that electrode that the edge effect is suppressed.

Abstract: To prevent parallax distortion, and to simplify application of masking patterns, particularly for LCD units, the mask is applied to the front-, or back-plate electrode at the side facing the liquid crystal, and opposite the interrupted, or etched front-plate electrode on the back support plate. Suitable methods are printing, particularly with a coarse or rough grain lacquer varnish or ink, the projections of the coarse grain forming the microspacers between said plates and for retaining the liquid crystal medium; other methods are galvanic deposition on the continuous electrode, and selected exposure of photographic emulsions, particularly color emulsions so that, with multi-color emulsions, multi-color effects can be obtained although only a single thickness of emulsion layer is applied.

Abstract: The disturbing residual transmission of a liquid crystal display device which is particularly noticeable in negative contrast devices is reduced by reference to the fact that the residual transmission is colored. The entire display surface of the liquid crystal device is provided with a transparent covering of a color complementary to the residual transmission color when the liquid crystal is not turned on. The transparent colored covering can be applied by printing as well as otherwise. In another embodiment, color shifts between turned-on and not turned-on displays are counteracted by mixing into the liquid crystal material a dichroic coloring material which has much lower absorption when the display is turned on. A light blue dichroic coloring material is suitable for LCDs which have residual transmission in the red region.